University of Chichester, English and Creative Writing Department

University of Chichester, English and Creative Writing Department This page is to let everyone know about the great events, research, students and lecturers we have i We also offer a MA in Creative Writing and PhD supervision.

This page is run by the current lecturers and readers in the busy English and Creative writing department at the University of Chichester. At Chichester we offer a stimulating and friendly environment where students can choose to study English Literature, English Language, Drama or Creative Writing on a range of BA programmes. Our degrees allow you to encounter new and exciting texts and to enhanc

e your skills as reader, critic and writer. Research Centres include the Sussex Centre for Folklore, Fairy Tales and Fantasy (https://www.facebook.com/SussexFolktaleCentre) and the South Coast Eighteenth-century and Romantic Research Centre (http://www.scerrg.org/).

This evening we enjoyed a wonderful celebration of poetry and prose from our MA Creative Writing students, beautifully c...
17/06/2026

This evening we enjoyed a wonderful celebration of poetry and prose from our MA Creative Writing students, beautifully complemented by live jazz from talented musicians in the University’s Conservatoire.

This week's events:Event SW2: Spoken Word and Jazz – MA Showcase EventWednesday 17 June 2026, 6-8 p.m. in CloistersCome ...
15/06/2026

This week's events:

Event SW2: Spoken Word and Jazz – MA Showcase Event
Wednesday 17 June 2026, 6-8 p.m. in Cloisters

Come and hear the latest talent perform! The University’s MA in Creative Writing is one of the most successful in the country. Alumni include Bethan Roberts, whose novel My Policeman was made into a film starring Harry Styles, and Karen McCarthy Woolf, whose novel in verse, Top Doll, was shortlisted for the T. S. Eliot Prize. Karen’s début, An Aviary of Small Birds was an Observer Book of the Year.

Free and open to all. Ticket link: https://festivalofchichester.co.uk/event/event-sw02-spoken-word-and-jazz-ma-showcase-event/

Festival of Chichester Event
‘The Place That Made You’: A Talk and Creative Workshop
Date: Saturday 20th June, 2-4 pm
Location: Jubilee Hall, New Park Community Centre, New Park Rd, Chichester PO19 7XY
Cost: £12

Join local authors and experienced creative writing tutors Stephanie Norgate and Karen Stevens for a warm, encouraging and fun writing workshop, drawing on a place that is special to you.

Stephanie and Karen will discuss how their imaginations have been shaped by the rural and urban landscapes of Hampshire, a county both have grown up in and know intimately. They will then guide you through a series of connected writing exercises, inviting you to explore the landscapes, cityscapes, or seascapes that have influenced your own sense of place.

Stephanie Norgate is a poet with three collections from Bloodaxe Books. Her debut novel Hartisborne, praised as 'Magical, moving, poetic' draws on the landscape of Selborne and the legacy of naturalist Gilbert White.

Karen Stevens is a short fiction writer and Creative Writing lecturer at the University of Chichester. Her debut collection Brilliant Blue, described as ‘bold, beautiful and ebullient’, is inspired by Hampshire housing estates.

Book a place via the Eventbrite link:
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-place-that-made-you-a-poetry-and-prose-creative-writing-workshop-tickets-1987300852346?aff=oddtdtcreator

At our final Oxfam talk of the season, Dr Naomi Foyle shared moving readings of both classic and contemporary war poetry...
03/06/2026

At our final Oxfam talk of the season, Dr Naomi Foyle shared moving readings of both classic and contemporary war poetry from Britain, Ukraine, Palestine and Israel, exploring themes of sacrifice, witness, faith, empathy, dialogue, justice and hope.

Festival of Chichester Event: ‘The Place That Made You’: A Talk and Creative WorkshopDate: Saturday 20th June, 2-4 pmLoc...
02/06/2026

Festival of Chichester Event: ‘The Place That Made You’: A Talk and Creative Workshop

Date: Saturday 20th June, 2-4 pm

Location: Jubilee Hall, New Park Community Centre, New Park Rd, Chichester PO19 7XY

Cost: £12

Book a place via the Eventbrite link:
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-place-that-made-you-a-poetry-and-prose-creative-writing-workshop-tickets-1987300852346?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join local authors and experienced creative writing tutors Stephanie Norgate and Karen Stevens for a warm, encouraging and fun writing workshop, drawing on a place that is special to you.
Stephanie and Karen will discuss how their imaginations have been shaped by the rural and urban landscapes of Hampshire, a county both have grown up in and know intimately. They will then guide you through a series of connected writing exercises, inviting you to explore the landscapes, cityscapes, or seascapes that have influenced your own sense of place.

Stephanie Norgate is a poet with three collections from Bloodaxe Books. Her debut novel Hartisborne, praised as 'Magical, moving, poetic' draws on the landscape of Selborne and the legacy of naturalist Gilbert White.

Karen Stevens is a short fiction writer and Creative Writing lecturer at the University of Chichester. Her debut collection Brilliant Blue, described as ‘bold, beautiful and ebullient’, is inspired by Hampshire housing estates.

With an introduction by Dr Naomi Foyle, Dr Daria Mattingley hosted a thought-provoking Q&A with Artem Chapeye this eveni...
21/05/2026

With an introduction by Dr Naomi Foyle, Dr Daria Mattingley hosted a thought-provoking Q&A with Artem Chapeye this evening, exploring his life as a father, writer, soldier, and pacifist who joined the Ukrainian army in the early days of the invasion. Drawing on the works of Orwell, Nietzsche, and Gandhi as well as his own experiences on the front line, he reflected on how war can change our identity and all that we take for granted.

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/ordinary-people-don-t-carry-machine-guns-artem-chapeye/7796677

Last week’s Creative Writing for Wellbeing session, led by Reader in Creative Writing Dr Suzy Joinson, was described as ...
21/05/2026

Last week’s Creative Writing for Wellbeing session, led by Reader in Creative Writing Dr Suzy Joinson, was described as “excellent and pitched perfectly”. Another participant said, "It definitely put me into deep thoughts, and has given me ideas to add to this ... Very interesting."

Well done to Suzy for bringing her inspiring teaching, creativity and reflection to the wider Chichester community, and huge thanks to Chichester Foodbank for organising and hosting this fantastic event.

Yesterday, some of our third-year Creative Writing students visited the stunning Kingley Vale as part of the ‘Writing, E...
14/05/2026

Yesterday, some of our third-year Creative Writing students visited the stunning Kingley Vale as part of the ‘Writing, Environment and Ecocriticism’ module.

A renowned National Nature Reserve, Kingley Vale is famous for its ancient, twisted yew forests, with some trees between 500 and 2,000 years old, making them among the oldest living things in Britain.

This gave the students the chance to engage directly with landscape, history, and environment to enhance their writing and creative processes.

Further reading this week included 'Yews' by Vicki Feaver from The Book of Blood (Cape 2006), course leader Prof. Hugh Dunkerley's 'Natural History' and 'The Tranquility Maps' from his poetry collection Hare (Cinnamon Press, 2010), plus podcast ‘Discovering history and mystery in Kingley Vale in the South Downs’ (https://www.countryfile.com/podcast/history-kingly-vale-south-downs)

We’re so lucky to live and work so close to the inspiring landscape of the South Downs National Park.

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Chichester
PO196PE

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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